BUILDING DREAMShttp://houseplansandmore.com/blog
houseplans&more blogThu, 15 Jun 2017 02:24:36 +0000en-UShourly1Great Floor Plans for Entertaining & Guestshttp://houseplansandmore.com/blog/great-floor-plans-for-entertaining-guests/
http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/great-floor-plans-for-entertaining-guests/#commentsFri, 20 Nov 2015 22:06:46 +0000http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/?p=520Most of the year, we entertain smaller groups of family or friends, so Craftsman house plans like ours in a fairly modest size do the job just fine. But, now that the holidays are quickly approaching, we realize the good and bad things about a smaller-sized home and what type of floor plans are best suited for those with frequent guests and those who entertain many people often.

One thing our floor plan has going for it is its split bedroom design. Split bedroom house plans keep the master suite private and are designed with it placed in a different location than the other bedrooms. This is a popular style for many homeowners. We like it because if we have guests, we both have our own privacy. If you have teenagers, then everyone will appreciate their own space.

House plans with both formal and informal dining areas, or house plans with open floor plans are also very popular for different reason. Having a home with both formal and informal dining areas may allow for more intimate dining situations, perhaps with the adults in the formal setting and the kids in the casual one. Instead of the moms and dads constantly tending to the kids at the same table, create the popular “kid’s table,’ and let them fend for themselves for the meal. Most often the older kids chip in and help the little ones handle their utensils and cut their food. It will make everyone’s dining experience more enjoyable. I also mentioned house plans with open floor plans. This style is becoming increasingly popular. This style of this home design typically has one large space where dining, cooking and relaxing all take place. It’s a great layout for keeping the chef of the family in the loop to all of the fun going on, and when everyone will definitely feel more together. We have a bit of a combination. Our floor plan is open, but we also have a formal dining area as well as a more casual one closer to the kitchen snqin7t. It allows us to seat more people, which is great with our growing family get-togethers. It’s really important when looking at house plans to pay attention to the amount of space you’ll have when entertaining. We are fairly certain as the children marry and have children of their own, we will most definitely have to finish our basement for a larger gathering space that can handle bigger crowds.

A couple of other home options I want to mention are home designs with guesthouses, free-standing apartment garage plans, and multi-family plans. All three of these really take privacy when housing guests to a different level. Most home designs with a guest house are high-end luxury homes, often very large in size. So, why is a guesthouse needed then? Well, it’s a great way to offer guests plenty of privacy away from the noise of the main home. If you’re in the market for a luxury home, consider a home with a guest house. Family and friends will be glad you did!

Apartment garage plans have really come a long way in recent years and are definitely growing in popularity as the general population continues to age and multi-generational housing options are becoming more popular. An apartment garage is great also for the live-in college student. Typically, these dwellings provide small studio type apartments above the garage, perfect for a private little place to live.

If you want to be close to family and friends, but want everyone to have their own designated space, then maybe a multi-family plan is the right choice. Think of it as two separate houses that share one wall. Everyone is still in close proximity, which is great for checking on family, but each family member has their own residence and quiet place. It’s quite possibly the best of both worlds!

As family and friends descend on your usually ideal-sized home, think about how your future home could better handle all of those frequently visiting relatives with some of these different housing choices. And, what style of these would you choose?

]]>http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/great-floor-plans-for-entertaining-guests/feed/45Adding a Railing To Patio Stepshttp://houseplansandmore.com/blog/adding-a-railing-to-patio-steps/
http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/adding-a-railing-to-patio-steps/#commentsFri, 13 Nov 2015 21:27:47 +0000http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/?p=509Like mentioned before, we have one deep lot house plans, but we still had some space for a spacious patio, which we added in mid-summer. But, right from the start, the grade of our backyard was quite a bit lower than where the breakfast room patio doors opened. So, when the patio was put in, several stairs had to be constructed in order to get to the patio level below.

We didn’t want one of those raised deck designs over our yard. We really wanted to open up the door and feel like we were in our yard, not on a deck above it. So, we had no choice but to have four stairs going down to our patio. It looked nice and it was designed with “wedding cake” style stairs that are a little more decorative than a plain straight down staircase.

It wasn’t long after our patio was in that we had a decent rainfall. After stepping out onto the top step covered in water, it became apparent to me that these stairs definitely needed a railing. Their steepness was a little daunting and actually kept several older family members from going to our patio when we had some family over for a visit. And, with even the slightest amount of moisture, these stairs were a slick as ice. Even our pups had a few crash landings when they were a little too excited to head outdoors. One thing that could’ve been done when installing the staircase was to add sand. Adding something with some grit would’ve made the concrete or the glaze applied at the end more resistance when wet. I’m not sure if concrete patio companies do such a thing, but I do know they add sand and silicon beads to paint in order to make it less slick for garage floors. So, it might have been a wise option for the safety of everyone. Or, I know commercial buildings often have sandpaper-like strips at the edge of a stair to offer a little traction. I’m not sure such a thing exists for exteriors stairs, but it may be a good idea if it does exist to add it to your exterior stairs if you’ve noticed a similar problem like ours.

Well, since we didn’t have a gritty additive put in the glaze, and there aren’t any sandpaper strips on the edge of the staircase, I felt we definitely needed a staircase that offered stability and easier balancing when using our patio stairs. Luckily, there are attractive aluminum stairs that can adjust to any rise available at most home improvement retailers. A contractor friend actually installed the railing, but it seems like an easy project for any homeowner. We were most concerned with the strength of the railing in case someone really ends up relying on it to avoid a fall. He secured the railing to the house in two places and the base of the staircase is anchored deeply into the concrete. I feel much better myself when using the stairs since they were pretty steep now that the railing is in place. It is extremely strong and offers so much support when leaving or entering our house. I highly suggest if you have exterior steps of two or more to consider adding a railing for extra safety. I know guests to our home will be much safer and I believe that it would be a liability to have kept those stairs without a railing in place. In most regions of the country, to meet code, a staircase with three or more stairs must have a railing. Luckily, retailers are carrying them for easy installation and in attractive styles that look great with any type of outdoor area.

]]>http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/adding-a-railing-to-patio-steps/feed/19Tips For a Safe and Fun Halloweenhttp://houseplansandmore.com/blog/tips-for-a-safe-and-fun-halloween/
http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/tips-for-a-safe-and-fun-halloween/#commentsFri, 30 Oct 2015 22:23:17 +0000http://houseplansandmore.com/blog/?p=499Halloween is one of those holidays both kids and adults really look forward to. It’s a spirited time that can be a lot of fun for everyone. But, with all things that are fun comes some risk, so I created a list of things to remember and do this Halloween so it’s safe and fun for everyone.

Use battery powered candles – The doorbell will be ringing nonstop and the pets barking up a storm. The chaos can be great with the kids ingesting so much sugar and excited about their costumes and everything else going on. It’s always nice to light candles this time of year and the flicker of a candle can make for a spooky backdrop when trick or treaters arrive at the door. So, use battery powered candles. The ones in these pumpkin votives were bought at the dollar store and flicker with a realistic look. Better safe than sorry when you don’t have time to watch burning candles in the house.

Keep pets indoors – You always hear those awful stories of pranks gone wrong on days like Halloween. Evil-doers lurk in every neighborhood wreaking havoc on homes, cars and even pets. There’s no need to have your dog in a vulnerable place. Even innocent pranks gone wrong could have your pet injured or let free. Keep Fido indoors where he’s safe and if the doorbell ringing nonstop has your pet worked up, then put them in a room away from all of the commotion so they don’t attempt to run out the door when it’s opened.

Get personal – We only know a few neighbors since building one of those Craftsman home designs that are getting popular in our area. Choosing a neighborhood can be tricky, but we’re happy so far with the neighbors we have met. Since we’re just meeting our new neighbors, we decided to hand out boxes with a To: and a From: on them. This way when the kids get home they will be certain they know where the goodies came from. This can also work with a sticker placed on the candy bar itself stating who handed the treat out. You know parents will be relieved to see a neighbor’s name and that you’re looking out for their kids.

Light up your life – Whether it’s flashlights, glow in the dark necklaces, or reflector tape, find a way to add something to your child’s costume that allows them to be seen easier. But, try to use the ideas above to enhance the costume not detract from it! If you’re an alien, use reflector tape and wrap it around antennas, or use glow in the dark necklaces as hair accessories or around each arm and both legs. Have fun with this safety element and stand out in the crowd!

Clear a Path – This time of year, leaves pile up so be sure your path to the front door is neat and tidy especially if it rains. Leaves are slippery and the last thing you want is anyone falling or slipping. Make sure that your front area is well lit, and completely free of debris of any kind.

Candy for Everyone? – Keep your candy bowls easily accessible so you don’t have to step too far away when trick or treaters bang on your door. Parents will not feel comfortable if their child enters your home to get candy from you. Even better, set-up shop outside and get the fire pit going and make it an event to hand out candy. Also, don’t make the mistake of having your candy bowl on a coffee table or some place where pets or small children can get into it. Chocolate is deadly to dogs and many candies can be choking hazards to small children.

Common sense will take you far on Halloween, so stick together, stay safe and keep those you love out of harms way so your day and night are filled with ghoulish fun!